The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail

FAA begins testing drone traffic management capabilities

By Brianna Wessling | February 19, 2022

Listen to this article
Voiced by Amazon Polly
drone

The FAA plans to begin testing to allow for regular beyond visual line of sight flight. | Source: Skydio

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will start field testing its drone-traffic-management capabilities in the spring of 2022. Its end goal is to eventually integrate drones into the National Airspace System.

The Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) Field Test aims at enabling the government and drone community to improve standards, data exchange methods and cybersecurity capabilities. The tests will involve the FAA and industry partners flying drones in realistic scenarios. The administration hopes to learn how to manage drone traffic in different environments.

The UTM is a collaboration between the FAA, NASA, other federal agencies and industry leaders. Together they explore concepts of operation, data exchange requirements and a supporting framework to enable drone flight beyond visual line of sight in airspaces where the administration’s air traffic services are not provided. The UTM focuses on drones that fly in low altitudes, under 400 feet above ground level.

The UTM acts separately but is complementary to Air Traffic Management services for manned aircrafts.

The FAA plans to use results from the test to aid in developing new policies. For the industry, the FAA hopes the tests will inform updated standards to allow drones to routinely fly beyond visual line of sight of operators.

The FAA has recently updated its rules regarding drone flights over people. In December 2020, the FAA laid out a universal standard for flying drones over people, while maintaining limitations for flying over large groups. It stated that if the drone couldn’t cause a certain level of injury, it could fly above people.

A year later, in December 2021, the FAA approved new testing methods from Virginia Tech. These methods are the first to be accepted by the FAA since it’s latest rule for drone flights over people.

The newly approved testing methods determine how much kinetic energy a drone is likely to transfer in realistic conditions, which will take into account the energy that could dissipate with cracking or breaking. Now that the testing method has been approved, Virginia Tech can work with drone manufacturers to conduct tests and help design new models of aircraft.

About The Author

Brianna Wessling

Brianna Wessling is an Associate Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media. She joined WTWH Media in November 2021, and is a recent graduate from the University of Kansas. She can be reached at [email protected]

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

John Deere autonomous tractor
Calif.’s ongoing ban of autonomous tractors a major setback
cruise robotaxis in San Francisco
Cruise hits milestone by charging for robotaxis rides in SF
synkar mobile robot on sidewalk
Synkar offers sidewalk delivery as a service
robots in mine
Hiring levels for robotics jobs in mining hit year high in May

2021 Robotics Handbook

The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Robotics News

Robot Report Podcast

Niels Jul Jacobsen, CEO, Capra Robotics; Spider-Man Robot Fail
See More >

Sponsored Content

  • Magnetic encoders support the stabilization control of a self-balancing two-wheeled robotic vehicle
  • How to best choose your AGV’s Wheel Drive provider
  • Meet Trey, the autonomous trailer (un)loading forklift
  • Kinova Robotics launches Link 6, the first Canadian industrial collaborative robot
  • Torque sensors help make human/robot collaborations safer for workers

RBR50 Innovation Awards

Leave us a voicemail

The Robot Report
  • Mobile Robot Guide
  • Collaborative Robotics Trends
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Business Review
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail